The Recall Trials
Chapter 55: What If They’re Right About Me?

Chapter 55: What If They’re Right About Me?

"And finally..." the voice paused like it wanted the whole room to hold its breath, "with a total of twenty-seven votes... is Jojo."

Twenty-seven votes.

That was more than anyone else. Way more.

More than Theo. More than Aaron.

Everyone just stared at each other for a second, trying to process it.

Trying to believe it.

Jojo?

I looked around quickly.

But Jojo wasn’t even here.

"The wildcard will be revealed in twenty minutes," the voice from the speaker continued.

"His or her fate will be decided."

That made people move.

Suddenly the room was filled with noise...nervous chatter, whispers, the sound of nails being bitten down to the skin. Some people stamped their feet out as if it would stop them from freaking out.

I kept looking at the door like maybe Jojo would walk in like nothing happened.

But nothing.

"Where’s Jojo?" Carter asked, appearing beside me.

I blinked. "Huh? I was just about to ask you."

Carter frowned. "How is she not here? Did she... escape? Because if she didn’t vote, that’ll look like confirmation. They’ll think she’s the wildcard."

My stomach twisted.

I hoped to God she was safe.

But deep down, I knew it would be obvious now.

Her absence said more now she has the highest votes.

And if they had checked the records... they would’ve known she never cast a ballot.

She never returned.

Some people were pacing. Others were sitting quietly, heads down. Some were whispering to their bunkmates. A few were just frozen, watching the timer on the wall tick down.

The final minute came.

The voice returned.

"Who is the wildcard?" it echoed .

"That’s the question on everyone’s mind. Is it someone you voted for? Or someone you overlooked? Someone too obvious... or someone too quiet?"

I gripped my knees. I felt Zaara’s fingers dig into my arm.

And then:

"The wildcard is... Vincent Aston. Contestant 001."

Everything shattered.

My heart dropped like it forgot how to beat.

My legs jerked under me. I barely caught myself from collapsing.

Heads turned.

My throat was dry. Everything inside me felt like it was twisting.

Me.

The wildcard.

Me.

The traitor.

Only I had no idea what the hell they were talking about.

I opened my mouth, trying to speak, but nothing came out.

People were rising now, stepping away like I was infected. Like standing too close would get them killed.

Zaara was still staring at me...she was. Not just anger. It was something worse.

Disappointment.

"Say something," she whispered.

"I swear to God, Zaara... I don’t know what they’re talking about." I stepped toward her. "I didn’t plan this. I didn’t even know I was the wildcard until they said it just now..."

"Don’t," she said quickly, backing up. "Don’t lie to me."

"I’m not lying!" My voice was too loud now.. "I would never lie to you. You know that."

She shook her head slowly. "Then how? How do they know you’re the wildcard if you’re not working with them?"

"I don’t know!" I shouted. "I don’t f*cking know, Zaara! Maybe...maybe they’re using my name for cover or something."

"You were always shady. Now you’re just exposed," Theo said with a smirk.

"You’re sick," I said, my fists clenched. "You seriously believe that?"

"I thought you were one of us. Turns out you were their golden boy. Keeping tabs. Spying. Probably reporting everything back to the freaks in masks," Carter said walking up to me.

"Stop!" Zaara snapped, stepping between us. She turned to me, holding my hands. "Vincent... please. Just tell me the truth. All of it. Even if it hurts."

"I knew it," Theo said loudly, standing with his arms crossed. "Knew from the start you weren’t as squeaky clean as you acted." He scoffed. "Thank God I voted your creepy ass. Turns out I’ve got great instincts."

He let out a fake laugh and turned to the others. "Wildcard? More like wildcard weirdo."

A few people actually chuckled. Someone muttered, "He did give off that vibe," and the laughter picked up.

Theo raised his arms like he was enjoying the show. "Next time y’all need someone exposed, just call Detective Theo. Let’s hear it for Contestant 001! The silent snake, the undercover puppet...Vincent Freaking Aston!"

More scattered laughs. A couple of eye-rolls.

"Shut the f*ck up, Theo," Nomi snapped, rising from where she sat, she crossed her arms and walked straight to him.

Theo blinked, surprised. "What?"

"I said shut up," she repeated. "You talk too much for someone who’s done absolutely nothing useful since day one. All bark, no brains."

Theo opened his mouth but nothing came out.

"And I swear," Nomi cut in again, "if I hear one more word come out of your crusty little mouth, I will personally rearrange your teeth. Got it?"

Oh wow," he said with a sneer. "Look who suddenly found her voice."

He gestured toward Nomi, grinning cruelly.

"Trying to defend the guy who wouldn’t even piss on you if you were on fire. Newsflash, sweetheart...Vincent doesn’t give a damn about you."

A couple people snorted. My hands curled into fists, but Nomi didn’t flinch.

Theo smirked, feeding off the crowd. "She’s over here playing loyal sidekick while he’s been lying to all of us. Open your eyes...he’s not who you think he is."

"Stop," Zaara said

"Stop it....all of you."

Heads turned. The whispers froze. Even Theo looked stunned.

Zaara stood in the center of the room. "This....this is exactly what they want.. Feeding off chaos.."

She looked at Theo. "You think you’re being brave, but all you’re doing is making noise."

She turned to Nomi. "And you....stop trying to speak for him. Let Vincent speak for himself.

Then I turned to Zaara, her eyes were welling up, the way she was still trying to believe in me, even after everything.

And it hurt.

Because I had no truth to give. No answers.

Just chaos and confusion.

"I don’t know how this happened," I said out loud so everyone would hear me. "But I swear to yall, I’m not working with them. I’m not the wildcard."

Zaara stared at me for a long time. Searching my face like she wanted to read my soul.

"That’s what makes it worse," she said quietly.

"You don’t even realize how much power you have over people."

And with that, she turned.